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of course nothing will happen on january 1, the moment the fiscal cliff arrives. it's going to be a slow drip, drip, drip effect as people realize a slowing in spending, the taxes go up, consumers are worried. it won't happen overnight. there's going to be no dramatic over the cliff we go. instead, you will see an evaporation of confidence. you will see an evaporation of business decision-making. that is where the tumor and the cancer will begin. in the united kingdom we have just had higher borrowing numbers and lower growth forecasts. just last week the ecb came out with dreadful, dreadful numbers on how the euro zone is performing. recession this year and possibly next. and you want to play games with something as important as the u.s. budget? i'm going to finish here. the core worry is three weeks out and an inability to do a deal. >> right. so the catastrophe may not come january 1, 2 or even the 30th, the catastrophe is long term because of the erosion of public confidence in the united states. richard, thank you my, my friend. >> it's happening now. >> abso
of course nothing will happen on january 1, the moment the fiscal cliff arrives. it's going to be a slow drip, drip, drip effect as people realize a slowing in spending, the taxes go up, consumers are worried. it won't happen overnight. there's going to be no dramatic over the cliff we go. instead, you will see an evaporation of confidence. you will see an evaporation of business decision-making. that is where the tumor and the cancer will begin. in the united kingdom we have just had higher...
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lou: on this broadcast we never talk about the fiscal cliff without referring to the incipient cause, there rid of it all, and that is why i believe it is entirely appropriate told the president accountable for thfiscal cliff because this is the only bullish and work here. it is this president who has decided to issue an ultimatum. first on taxes and being raised on only 2 percent of the people. secondly, insisting tha the debt ceiling ssue be compounded with it all. this is without question an ultimatum, the consequenceare his. what do you think? >> well, i am afraid that even though the consequences are his, the consequences for the economy will be his. i think he is betting, i think there is pretty good evidence right now that he is betting that he can win this argument because the media and his megaphone enable him to persuade the american people that the republicans will be the cause of e troubles that we will face if we go over the cliff. lou: history is littered with examples of those to proceed and rationally so but came up against creative, energetic opposition that found a w
lou: on this broadcast we never talk about the fiscal cliff without referring to the incipient cause, there rid of it all, and that is why i believe it is entirely appropriate told the president accountable for thfiscal cliff because this is the only bullish and work here. it is this president who has decided to issue an ultimatum. first on taxes and being raised on only 2 percent of the people. secondly, insisting tha the debt ceiling ssue be compounded with it all. this is without question an...
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cliff and he's put entitle and spending cuts on the table and i think really, the issue here is whether republicans are going to be on the tax rates for the upper income folks. if that happens i think we'll have an agreement. if it it doesn't we could go over the fiscal cliff and right now the economy is in a fragile position. >> no one can argue with that one. a lot of criticism on both sides and a lot pointing to republicans that they want to see the fiscal cliff happen. is there any upside if we actually go over the cliff? >> there's no upside if we go over the cliff and what you've seen the last couple of weeks is political theater. that's how we negotiate things here in washington d.c. and the good news, the president put forth a plan and republicans have put forth a plan and i believe that obama will have to come to the table with more spending cuts and entitlement reform and republicans might have to give in to some tax increases and the cbo do a recent report, saying if republicans get what they want in extending the entire bush tax cut plan. it would only increase the gd growth
cliff and he's put entitle and spending cuts on the table and i think really, the issue here is whether republicans are going to be on the tax rates for the upper income folks. if that happens i think we'll have an agreement. if it it doesn't we could go over the fiscal cliff and right now the economy is in a fragile position. >> no one can argue with that one. a lot of criticism on both sides and a lot pointing to republicans that they want to see the fiscal cliff happen. is there any...
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cliff. republicans and democrats keep arguing into the new year. others are worried failure to strike a deal could send the nation back into a recession. >> i think people understand the failure to compromise and going over the cliff could really jeopardize this recovery. the good news today about more people back at work, the unemployment rate coming down, listen, that can be reversed if people lose confidence in our future. >> the number two senate ranked democrat mr. temperature bib argues next week will be critical in terms of president obama and speaker boehner finding a compromise. shep? >> shepard: democrats are still saying what they have said all along and what the president ran on this is about taxes. >> that is true and they note president obama campaigned on upper income americans paying more so they intend to make sure that happens. the house democratic leader says the only obstacle is republicans refusing to ask the top 2% to pay more. >> this is a moment of truth. the clock is
cliff. republicans and democrats keep arguing into the new year. others are worried failure to strike a deal could send the nation back into a recession. >> i think people understand the failure to compromise and going over the cliff could really jeopardize this recovery. the good news today about more people back at work, the unemployment rate coming down, listen, that can be reversed if people lose confidence in our future. >> the number two senate ranked democrat mr. temperature...
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back in this country, we are just over three weeks away from falling over the so-called fiscal cliff, that combination of tax increases and deep federal spending cuts. nancy cordes reports the back-and-forth showed no sign of letting up today 20 white house and the republicans in congress. >> reporter: in his saturday weekly address, president obama signaled he is open to making cuts on programs like medicare and medicaid if republicans agree to raise tax rates for the rich. >> i'm willing to find ways to bring down the cost of health care without hurting seniors and other americans who depend on it. and i'm willing to make more entitlement spendings cuts on top of the $1 trillion in spending cuts i signed into law last year. >> reporter: his remarks came one day after house speaker john boehner announced the talkes were stalled. >> well, this isn't a progress report because there's no progress to be report. >> reporter: his democratic counter-part ploals blamed boehner for the stalemate. >> what they offered in return was an empty letter lacking in specifics. >> reporter: such is the
back in this country, we are just over three weeks away from falling over the so-called fiscal cliff, that combination of tax increases and deep federal spending cuts. nancy cordes reports the back-and-forth showed no sign of letting up today 20 white house and the republicans in congress. >> reporter: in his saturday weekly address, president obama signaled he is open to making cuts on programs like medicare and medicaid if republicans agree to raise tax rates for the rich. >> i'm...
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cliff. how would you describe your temperature, your feeling that there will be some kind of accommodation and a deal even on the tax and spending and sequester side or both? >> good morning. glad to be with you and give you my perspective on where we are. to the beginning of your question, i often say one i am giving remarks that -- people in the same group, no matter how ponce and they are, people -- no matter how partis and they are, people will say two things. i want you to go to washington and stand on your principal. i want you to fight for us. i say, i will. someone else will get up and say, i want you to compromise and find the middle ground and get things done. this is the 10th time this just happen to me. i say, that is exactly what they hired me to do, to figure out how we do both of those things. it is our job as representatives in congress, to fight for our values and the principles we believe in and still can something done. that is where we are right now. the divide we are fac
cliff. how would you describe your temperature, your feeling that there will be some kind of accommodation and a deal even on the tax and spending and sequester side or both? >> good morning. glad to be with you and give you my perspective on where we are. to the beginning of your question, i often say one i am giving remarks that -- people in the same group, no matter how ponce and they are, people -- no matter how partis and they are, people will say two things. i want you to go to...
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assistance are being called the fiscal cliff. the only way to i void it is for president obama and congress to make a deal, cutting spending and raising revenue. adding to the sense of urgency. news that 350,000 people simply gave up looking for work in the month of november. and while that drove the unemployment rate down to 7.7%, the fiscal cuts and tax hikes are expected to dramatically slow job creation and increase unemployment possibly plunging the economy back into a recession. let's go to dana joining us from capitol hill. the latest negotiations don't seem to be going anywhere. >> they sure don't. the house speaker ended the week by calling it a wasted week. he only had one phone call with the president of the united states and he said it was just, "more of the same." now counter offer to what the republicans put out during the week which was $800 billion in new tax revenue. so there's certainly a lot of frustration. particularly right now on the side of republicans who understand that democrats have the leverage right n
assistance are being called the fiscal cliff. the only way to i void it is for president obama and congress to make a deal, cutting spending and raising revenue. adding to the sense of urgency. news that 350,000 people simply gave up looking for work in the month of november. and while that drove the unemployment rate down to 7.7%, the fiscal cuts and tax hikes are expected to dramatically slow job creation and increase unemployment possibly plunging the economy back into a recession. let's go...
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known as the fiscal cliff. despite a call between president obama and john boehner, the two sides appear to be no closer to a compromise. are republicans working on the scenes on a plan b? wall street journal columnist, dan henninger and kim strassel. you have bean working the phones, is there something going on between speaker boehner and the president? >> no, i think that they are nowhere and it's because the president is refusing to budge at all on the top toks ratestopx rates and we'll go off the cliff if the republicans don't acreed to that demand. so we're still at a stand still. >> paul: kim, why is the president so insistent on increasing tax rates? boehner has already put on the table a comparable amount of money to be gained from putting a cap on deductions, about 800 billion over ten years, so such a-- >> look, paul, two reasons. first is ideological. his partisans, his liberal base believe this is somehow a symbol of winning the tax fight and you can only do that by raising the rates on the wealthy
known as the fiscal cliff. despite a call between president obama and john boehner, the two sides appear to be no closer to a compromise. are republicans working on the scenes on a plan b? wall street journal columnist, dan henninger and kim strassel. you have bean working the phones, is there something going on between speaker boehner and the president? >> no, i think that they are nowhere and it's because the president is refusing to budge at all on the top toks ratestopx rates and...
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can you fix the fiscal cliff and send the economy downward. >> the fiscal cliff, isn't it having real impact in the economy now? >> it's having real impact and name pact will growth longer we take to come to a deal, some deal, any deal. what everybody wants, individuals who are going to be paid in january, they don't know how much and businesses, so what's the deal? what are -- what do we have to plan on? >> the best down payment would be to continue tax rates at the middle class for the rates they are, the best down payment. that's the best easy first step and i hope congress will realize take a step and take it now and give the president something he can sign. >> that has to be the last word. thanks, guys. >>> from the downward slope of the cliff to the upward climb on jobs, a big surprise in the november jobs numbers. it's a step in the right direction, but ali velshi will join me with a look at why we need to do much more. americans believe they should be in charge of their own future. how they'll live tomorrow. for more than 116 years, ameriprise financial has worked for their cl
can you fix the fiscal cliff and send the economy downward. >> the fiscal cliff, isn't it having real impact in the economy now? >> it's having real impact and name pact will growth longer we take to come to a deal, some deal, any deal. what everybody wants, individuals who are going to be paid in january, they don't know how much and businesses, so what's the deal? what are -- what do we have to plan on? >> the best down payment would be to continue tax rates at the middle...
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and automatic spending cuts. the phenomenon known as the fiscal cliff. if that happens, it will trigger a recession, or worse. so, president obama is taking action and insisting that republicans agree to increase the existing marginal tax rates on the wealthiest top 2% of u.s. taxpayers. and of course, there is more to the deal. but there will be no negotiations on that big part of the deal unless that tax on the wealthiest 2% is negotiated now. the president could not be more emphatic in stressing the indispensable element of surmounting the cliff is that super-rich revenue. >> we're not insisting on rates just out of spite. or out of any kind of partisan bickering. but rather because we need to raise a certain amount of revenue. >> okay. here is john boehner, the republican house speaker. >> if you look at the plans that the white house have talked about thus far, they couldn't pass either house of the congress. >> republicans proposed raising $800 billion in extra revenues. and that revenue should come through tax reform and closing loopholes. happy n
and automatic spending cuts. the phenomenon known as the fiscal cliff. if that happens, it will trigger a recession, or worse. so, president obama is taking action and insisting that republicans agree to increase the existing marginal tax rates on the wealthiest top 2% of u.s. taxpayers. and of course, there is more to the deal. but there will be no negotiations on that big part of the deal unless that tax on the wealthiest 2% is negotiated now. the president could not be more emphatic in...
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if it appears likely we're going to go over the fiscal cliff and not meet the december 31nd deadline. me? i think that is a great development. finally cut some government waste and spending. oh, my goodness. meanwhile a black box data recorder revealed former new jersey governor jon corzine was doing 91 miles per hour in a 65 mile zone and he didn't have his seat belt on. and all that was contrary to what he first told us. why should all cars have the same kind of black box to settle lawsuits and find out who is lying? first up president obama heads to detroit monday. that's his first visit there in nearly months. this is mayor wing has just announced hundreds of layoffs in an effort to stave off the possible bankruptcy. but i don't think it's nearly enough. let's find out. joining me is detroit radio host doc thompson, wxyt talk radio. okay, doc, as i understand it you tell me if i'm wrong. about 11,000 detroit city workers and mayor bing is cutting 4 to 500. i'm not impressed with that. i think he should be cutting 20% of the workforce, not 5%. >> no, you're absolutely right, larry
if it appears likely we're going to go over the fiscal cliff and not meet the december 31nd deadline. me? i think that is a great development. finally cut some government waste and spending. oh, my goodness. meanwhile a black box data recorder revealed former new jersey governor jon corzine was doing 91 miles per hour in a 65 mile zone and he didn't have his seat belt on. and all that was contrary to what he first told us. why should all cars have the same kind of black box to settle lawsuits...
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taxes and not spending cuts in averting the fiscal cliff. >> the facts are that at this point the 39.6% does produce the revenue. the differentiation between the 39 pin 6% and the 28% that the president has for limitation or deductions creates a great deal of money as well. >> one conservative commentator suggested the out come of the fiscal talks won't be the end of the world. >> we will have taxes which are roughly the same as they were underon. we did fine in that. we will do fine. >> the question is whether these negotiations will lead to making other tough choices such as washington getting a handle on the growth of government. if not the european example seems to suggest huge fiscal trouble coming to our shores as well. mike emmanuel, fox news. >>> here is a doozie of a story. a baby mix up at a minneapolis hospital results in a new mother breastfeeding another woman's baby. i told you it was a doozie. the woman given the wrong infant realized that something was not right. >> when they brought cody she thought to herself it didn't look like her other baby. but her husband reassure
taxes and not spending cuts in averting the fiscal cliff. >> the facts are that at this point the 39.6% does produce the revenue. the differentiation between the 39 pin 6% and the 28% that the president has for limitation or deductions creates a great deal of money as well. >> one conservative commentator suggested the out come of the fiscal talks won't be the end of the world. >> we will have taxes which are roughly the same as they were underon. we did fine in that. we will...
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and that leads you back to the negotiations over the fiscal cliff. and i think this raises the pressure to get a deal done. that's important. and the part of the deal that is actually not being talked about, but which will be central, is the spending side. the sequester is a very bad policy. both sides agree it needs to go away. they have to figure out how. and the tax side has to be matched by entitlent reforms, and you can pick 37 if you have the right entitlement reforms, but only 36 if you have less and you could get 38 if you have more. there's a lot of work left to be done. >> let's talk about that, robert. on the spending side. do you think that there's any way the democrats get out of this over the next 18 or 24 months without really addressing spending and probably annoying a lot of their base in the process? >> well, the president has already put a lot of spending cuts on the table. let me partially agree with doug. the employment report today was, although it looked pretty encouraging if you look at the numbers underneath the numbers, it w
and that leads you back to the negotiations over the fiscal cliff. and i think this raises the pressure to get a deal done. that's important. and the part of the deal that is actually not being talked about, but which will be central, is the spending side. the sequester is a very bad policy. both sides agree it needs to go away. they have to figure out how. and the tax side has to be matched by entitlent reforms, and you can pick 37 if you have the right entitlement reforms, but only 36 if you...
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>> the fiscal cliff. because they have to. it is in writing, it's a law that if they don't get a deal together, we go over the cliff and 1.2 trillion dollars, 600 billion out of spending and 600 billion in taxes and force-- >> i remember when i was in school, this is just like a year ago, really, no, quite a while ago. i remember talking in school about us being in debt and it was like reaching a trillion dollars and the teacher asked us to wrap our hands around this idea of a trillion dollars. now, we're seeing 16 trillion dollars. i can't wrap my head around a trillion to try to-- >> and then jay carney saying that's not the focus getting us out of debt and i use my dad as a reference to the first hour of the show. like my dad handing me a credit card going off to college, you know what just put whatever you want on there, keep spending, that's not our focus. >> clayton: we're not going to pay for it. >> part of the deal president obama of brought to john boehner, let's reof move the debt ceiling and take the limit on the cr
>> the fiscal cliff. because they have to. it is in writing, it's a law that if they don't get a deal together, we go over the cliff and 1.2 trillion dollars, 600 billion out of spending and 600 billion in taxes and force-- >> i remember when i was in school, this is just like a year ago, really, no, quite a while ago. i remember talking in school about us being in debt and it was like reaching a trillion dollars and the teacher asked us to wrap our hands around this idea of a...
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let us start with where we are on the question of resolving the immediate fiscal cliff issues. how would you describe your feeling that there will be some kind of accommodation and a deal on the tax or spending sequester side or both? >> good morning. i am not gene sperling. i am pleased to be with you and give you my perspective on where we are. i will start by something i often say when i am giving remarks in my district -- that i am struck with in my district in philadelphia. people of this same group no matter how partisan or how non- partisan the group is, people will say different things to me. they will say, i want you to go to washington and stand on your principles. do not give an inch. go and fight for us. i say, i will. someone else will say, i want you to compromise, find that middle ground, and get things done. that is the 10th time that has happened. that is what they hired me to do is to figure out how we do both. it is our job as representatives in congress to fight for our values and priorities and principles we believe in and get something done. the divide tha
let us start with where we are on the question of resolving the immediate fiscal cliff issues. how would you describe your feeling that there will be some kind of accommodation and a deal on the tax or spending sequester side or both? >> good morning. i am not gene sperling. i am pleased to be with you and give you my perspective on where we are. i will start by something i often say when i am giving remarks in my district -- that i am struck with in my district in philadelphia. people of...
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but that is about the only thing close to progress in efforts to avoid the fiscal cliff. president obama used his weekly address insisting he is ready to make the tough decisions on spending cuts. >> i am willing to make more entitlement spending cuts on top of the one trillion in spending cuts i signed into law last year. but if we're serious about reducing our deficit while still investing in things like education and research that are important to growing our economy, and if we're serious about protecting middle class families then we're also going to have to ask the wealthiest americans to pay higher tax rates. that is one principle i wouldn't compromise on. >> speaker john boehner has a different view. he says the president needs to abandon what he called his "my way or the highway approach," in his words. if the president does that a lot of things are possible. >>> syrian rebels are battling army units around the capital. activists say 26 people were killed in the damascus suburbs today, while 29 more were killed around the country. meanwhile, the u.s. and other off
but that is about the only thing close to progress in efforts to avoid the fiscal cliff. president obama used his weekly address insisting he is ready to make the tough decisions on spending cuts. >> i am willing to make more entitlement spending cuts on top of the one trillion in spending cuts i signed into law last year. but if we're serious about reducing our deficit while still investing in things like education and research that are important to growing our economy, and if we're...
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fiscal cliff negotiations are now in the hands of just two people. president obama and house speaker john boehner. abc's david kerley joins us live with the latest. david, we have a positive jobs report. better than expected. consumer confidence floated. >> reporter: they're using the jobs report right now, the obama administration. a little more fuel. and we are talking about two men now. it comes down to these two guys and a lot of jobs on the line. possible hiring freezes, furloughs if we go over the cliff. now, working for the cuts they will make if we do actually go over the cliff. a diner, middle-class taxpayers and the vice president, telling republicans a deal to extend tax cuts for all but the wealthy is easy. >> the president would probably have me sprint up to the hill to bring the bill down for him to sign. it can be done like that. >> reporter: not really. even though the two sides are talking, they aren't making much progress. remember that phone call between the president and the speaker a couple days ago? >> the phone call was pleasan
fiscal cliff negotiations are now in the hands of just two people. president obama and house speaker john boehner. abc's david kerley joins us live with the latest. david, we have a positive jobs report. better than expected. consumer confidence floated. >> reporter: they're using the jobs report right now, the obama administration. a little more fuel. and we are talking about two men now. it comes down to these two guys and a lot of jobs on the line. possible hiring freezes, furloughs if...
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. >>> this morning marks 24 days before the country goes over the fiscal cliff, where everyone's taxes automatically go up and deep spending cuts kick in. president obama is taking aim at republicans, accusing them of blocking a bill that would prevent tax rates from going up for the middle class. republicans are firing back, saying raising tax rates for anyone, including top earners, would jeopardize the economy. fiscal cliff negotiations are now in the hands of just two people, president obama and house speaker john boehner. abc's david kerley joins us live with the latest. david, we have a positive jobs report. better than expected. consumer confidence plummeted. a lot of people attributing that to the gridlock in washington. >> reporter: they're using the jobs report right now, the obama administration. a little more fuel. and we are talking about two men now. it comes down to these two guys and a lot of jobs on the line. possible hiring freezes, furloughs if we go over the cliff. federal agencies now working on reports for the white house, of the cuts they will make if we do actua
. >>> this morning marks 24 days before the country goes over the fiscal cliff, where everyone's taxes automatically go up and deep spending cuts kick in. president obama is taking aim at republicans, accusing them of blocking a bill that would prevent tax rates from going up for the middle class. republicans are firing back, saying raising tax rates for anyone, including top earners, would jeopardize the economy. fiscal cliff negotiations are now in the hands of just two people,...
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now and the fiscal cliff negotiation. the back and forth between both sides hasn't been complimentary. quite the opposite, in fact, which means the country needs to prepare for what comes next. that would be automatic spending cups and the expiration of bush era tax breaks. the pentagon has been preparing, and as our john callan reports, so have families who have a whole lot to lose if a deal doesn't get done. >> reporter: jeremy connor, married father of two. >> i've worked recently for a very large defense contractor, and my wife works for that same defense contractor. >> reporter: he left that job after 18 years for more stability since the couple both worked in the same department. >> the discussion of the fiscal cliff just made sense for one of us to get out. >> you know, we didn't know what it looked like down the road, if we were even going to have jobs at all. >> reporter: pentagon's budget for the next ten years has already been flashed $500 billion, and could face another half trillion in automatic cuts if congr
now and the fiscal cliff negotiation. the back and forth between both sides hasn't been complimentary. quite the opposite, in fact, which means the country needs to prepare for what comes next. that would be automatic spending cups and the expiration of bush era tax breaks. the pentagon has been preparing, and as our john callan reports, so have families who have a whole lot to lose if a deal doesn't get done. >> reporter: jeremy connor, married father of two. >> i've worked...
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there's a possibility of some major changes to entitlement spending by the end of these fiscal cliff negotiations. it looks like democratic leaders are right now warming to the idea of raising medicare premiums for wealthier people. you in the past have been somewhat outspoken in terms of your opposition to the idea of altering entitlements in a dramatic way. are you changing your tune? >> no. however, i will say this. we have taken seriously the fact that we have an obligation to our seniors, that medicare has worked for millions, almost 450 million americans, seniors mostly but disabled. and we want to start the discussion about medicare with the promise we are going to keep medicare and find a way to contain the rate of growth in costs under medicare and all health care been helpful. >> sure. >> but we'll meet that obligation to our seniors. that's where i think we start. >> it sounds like you are open to the idea, then, of some tweaks to medicare, to some tweaks to entitlements for revenue. >> my conditions are -- and i think this is true for most democrats -- is that we maintain
there's a possibility of some major changes to entitlement spending by the end of these fiscal cliff negotiations. it looks like democratic leaders are right now warming to the idea of raising medicare premiums for wealthier people. you in the past have been somewhat outspoken in terms of your opposition to the idea of altering entitlements in a dramatic way. are you changing your tune? >> no. however, i will say this. we have taken seriously the fact that we have an obligation to our...